Belgian Beer List - Part I

Still Under Construction!

This is the first part of our recent Belgian beer tour, taking in everything we sampled in and around Bruges: the various establishments are in bold.

Terrastje, Bruges, August 27

Mark picked out this spot, which faces on to one of Bruges's canals, for our first evening - and our first Belgian beers. They have a tiny interior, which was especially crowded than normal when we visited because of the presence of an excellent band. We sat outside, and enjoyed some of their simple bar fare while starting things off with, among other choices, a number of locally-brewed options. Their beer choice seemed, at the time, only okay, but by the end of our time in Belgium it seemed quite normal for a place that focuses equally on food.

Brugse Zot Dark (Donker) 3
Brugse Zot Blond 2
Lindemans Kriek 2
Watou's Wit 2?
Brugse Straffe Hendrik 2
Watou Tripel 3
Malheur 6 3
Hommelbier Poperings 2

Erasmus Hotel, Bruges, August 27

This is a hotel bar, so it wasn't that atmospheric, but it's close to a beautiful courtyard which faces on to one of the canals. They had very tasty desserts and an excellent beer selection, including some fine options on tap; the service was top notch, and was ultimately one of the friendliest, most helpful welcomes we experienced in Belgium.

Struisse Rosse (Struisse Brouwers) 2
Echte Kriek Verhaeghe 3
Stoute Bie 1-2 (a very unusual beer, with a "malta" quality; hard to compare to anything else and hence hard to assess accurately)
Hercule (Brasserie Ellezelloise) 2

Garre, Bruges, August 28

Tripel van de Garre (House Tripel) 2
Gulden Draak 2
De Witte Van Celis 3
Pêcheresse Lindemans 2 (but admittedly not our favorite style)
Oerbier 3
Arabier 2
De Ranke XX 3
Dulle Teve 2-3

Grand Kaffee de Passage, Bruges, August 28

Brugse Straffe Hendrik (again, by accident) 2
Palm 2 (just about)
Vieux Temps 2
Sixtus 6 3
Westmalle Tripel 2 (low 2)
Martins Pale Ale 2.5
Brigand 2
Kriek Max Jacobins Bocker te Bellegem 1?

't Brugse Beertje, Bruges, August 28

Barbär (Lefebvre te Quenast) 2+
Liefmans Kriek 2
't Smisje Blond (De Regenboog) 2
Witkap Stimulo 3
De Cam Oude Geuze 3
Boon Oude Geuze 3 (a very horsey/agricultural beer!)

Taverne 't Zin, Sluis, Netherlands, August 29

Jupiler 1

Oude Speye, Damme, August 29

Achel Blond 3
La Chouffe 3
MacChouffe 3
St Louis Kriek Premium 2

In 't Nieuw Museum, Bruges, August 29

St Feuillien Blond 2
St Feuillien Bruin 3
Orval 2-3
Grimbergen Bruin 1
Grimbergen Blond 2

Cambrinus, Bruges, August 29

Westvleteren Blond 3
Westvleteren 8 3!
Westvleteren 12 3
Cantillon Kriek 100% Lambiek 2 (challengingly sour; it's far more a Lambiek than a normal Kriek)
Bink Blond Kerkom 2-3
Guido (De Regenboog) 2 (v. fruity, with a raisin aroma)
Saison Regal 2